The Impact of Foot Reflexology on Pain in Patients Undergoing Extracorporeal Shock WaveLithotripsy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a standard treatment for urinary stones; however, itsuse is often accompanied by pain. In recent years, reflexology has gained popularity as a non-pharmacologicalapproach to symptom management during medical procedures. Nevertheless, its effect on pain reduction inpatients undergoing lithotripsy remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of footreflexology on pain in patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.Methods: This clinical trial, which was randomized, took place at Sina Hospital in Arak City, Iran, fromDecember ۲۰۲۳ to July ۲۰۲۳. Patients who met the inclusion criteria, including being first-time recipients oflithotripsy, having no ulcers or lesions in the reflexology application area, lacking a history of recurrent kidneystones, and not having hydronephrosis, were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group (n=۳۷)and the control group (n=۳۷). In the intervention group, foot reflexology was administered for ۱۰ minutes,targeting reflex points on the sole, which included the diaphragm, solar plexus, pituitary gland, lungs, andadrenal glands. These steps were repeated on both the left and right feet of the patients. Patients in the controlgroup received standard care. Data for this study were collected using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) atvarious time intervals, including before the intervention and at ۱, ۱۰, ۲۰, ۳۰, ۴۰, and ۵۰ minutes afterward. Dataanalysis was carried out using both descriptive and analytical statistics.Results: Before the study, there was no statistically significant difference in the clinical and demographic dataof the patients between the two groups (p>۰.۰۵). According to the results of the independent t-test revealed asignificant difference in the severity of pain in patients at the ۳۰ and ۴۰-minute time intervals (p<۰.۰۵). Theresults of repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant effect of reflexology for the group andtime (p<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the application of reflexology techniques is associated withpain reduction in patients during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Therefore, it can be considered aneffective and simple option for reducing pain in patients during lithotripsy.